Morphologic and Growth Alterations of Epiphyseal Plate after Isohistogeneic Transfer of Young Rat Limb to Adult Rat

ABSTRACT

The hind limbs of young rats were transferred to adult rats to clarify the morphologic and growth changes of a young epiphyseal plate in an adult hormonal environment. The transplanted femur and tibia achieved about 70 percent of normal growth in length, or significantly less than normal control (p < 0.001). Histologically, the thickness of the epiphyseal plate in the transplanted bone was significantly thinner than that of normal control (p < 0.001), and earlier epiphyseal union was also noted. Hormonal alterations during adolescence are believed to have a marked effect on these findings. However, the circumferential growth of the femur and tibia was greatly affected by the loss of biomechanical stress, precluding an evaluation of the influence exerted by hormonal alterations.